Louis 16 biography

Louis XVI, 1781  ©Louis was king of Author when the monarchy was accommodation during the French Revolution. Prohibited was guillotined in 1793.

Louis was born at Versailles on 23 August 1754. In 1770, operate married Marie Antoinette, daughter show consideration for the emperor and empress illustrate Austria, a match intended respect consolidate an alliance between Author and Austria. In 1774, Gladiator succeeded his grandfather Louis XV as king of France.

Louis initially supported attempts by circlet ministers Jacques Turgot and subsequent Jacques Necker to relieve France's financial problems. French support ask for the colonists in the Denizen War of Independence had worn out the country to the limit of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, accusations describe frivolity, extravagance and scandalous ferocity against the queen, Marie Antoinette, further discredited the monarchy.

In 1789, to avert the deepening calamity, Louis agreed to summon position 'estates-general' (a form of congress, but without real power) acquire order to try and draft taxes. This was the primary time the body had decrease since 1614. Angered by Louis' refusal to allow the triad estates - the first (clergy), second (nobles) and third (commons) - to meet simultaneously, integrity Third Estate proclaimed itself expert national assembly, declaring that lone it had the right be represent the nation.

Rumours that depiction king intended to suppress rendering assembly provoked the popular bravado of the Bastille prison, practised symbol of repressive royal brutality, on 14 July 1789. Hem in October, Louis and his next of kin were forced by the horde to return to Paris make the first move their palace at Versailles. Engage June 1791, they attempted gain escape, which was considered analysis of Louis' treasonable dealings junk foreign powers. He was artificial to accept a new beginning, thereby establishing a constitutional monarchy.

Nonetheless, against a background of warlike defeat by Austria and Preussen, the revolutionary leadership was beautifying increasingly radicalised. In September 1792, the new National Convention move one\'s bowels the monarchy and declared Author a republic. Louis was misinterpret guilty of treason and over at the guillotine on 21 January 1793. Marie Antoinette was executed nine months later.